All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Sox guilty of familiar habit: If there's been a familiar issue for the Red Sox in their losses, it's been allowing multiple runs in the very first inning, putting the team immediately behind. It happened again Wednesday when the Minnesota Twins used a three-run homer from rookie outfielder Edouard Julien. Already this season, the Red Sox have given up 26 runs in the first 19 games. Of those 26 runs, 17 have come on home runs. It's unclear whether something needs to change regarding Sox' starters' routines leading up to games -- do they need to throw more pitches in the bullpen? Fewer? But clearly, an adjustment has to be made. The lineup is capable of coming back on a consistent basis, but inviting the opponents to score multiple runs right away is not a winning strategy in the long run.
Valdez has nice debut: Infielder Enmanuel Valdez, who was obtained as part of the deal that sent Christian Vazquez to Houston last August, realized his dream when he was promoted from Worcester to take the roster spot of Yu Chang, who was placed on paternity leave. Valdez got the start at second and wasted no time collecting his first hit, lashing a single to left in his first plate appearance. Not satisfied with one, he then collected a second hit -- this one, too, a single to left -- in his next at-bat. It was all part of a whirlwind day for Valdez. "It's been great,'' he concluded of his day. "Starting from when I arrived here in the clubhouse, the players, the staff, everyone really embraced me. Everyone told me to stay in the moment and enjoy it and that's exactly what I did. This only happens once and I think I had a good time out there.'' It wasn't all perfect for Valdez, who was charged with an error when he drifted back on a pop-up, and after nearly colliding with right fielder Alex Verdugo, bobbled the ball and it drop in. "I felt like I had it,'' he said. "But the one factor that I didn't account for was the wind. I felt like the wind took it. Errors are part of the game, but I'm here to fix any mistakes that I make and keep working hard so they don't happen again.''
TURNING POINT
Already trailing 7-0, the Red Sox looked like they might be putting together a big inning in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of some early wildness on the part of Twins starter Joe Ryan to load the bases with one out a walk, a single and a hit batsman. But just as quickly as the Sox mounted a threat, it was over, as Raimel Tapia hit into a groundout, plating a run, and Justin Turner was retired on a hard liner to shortstop.
TWO UP
Richard Bleier: Bleier got some things straightened out after a few tough outings, giving the Red Sox two perfect innings.
Jarren Duran: For the third straight game, Duran had a double -- to go along with a sacrifice fly. It would appear that the adjustments he made at the plate are working.
TWO DOWN
Ryan Brasier: Following up a strong appearance against the Angels, Brasier was hit around for three runs in just an inning of work in relief.
Raimel Tapia: Getting the start in center and hitting second, Tapia had four plate appearances and failed to get the ball out of the infield with four groundouts.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I just didn't execute enough pitches. I either left too many in the fat part of the zone, or missing off the plate and gave myself some bad counts. That wasn't a good recipe for success.'' Corey Kluber.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox dropped to 8-4 in games in which they hit at least one homer.
* The Sox have started the year by going 3-7 against righthanded starters.
* The 103 pitches thrown by Corey Kluber were his most in a game since MAy 2, 2021.
* Enmanuel Valdez became the first Red Sox player since Jarren Duran to collect a hit in his first major league appearance.
* KikΓ© Hernandez became only the seventh player in the modern era to hit at least 100 homers and play at least 10 games at seven different positions.
UP NEXT
The series finale between the Red Sox and Twins takes place Thursday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. with RHP Tanner Houck (2-0, 4.50) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (0-2, 4:09).